Language, Cognition, and Human Nature

Language,
Cognition,
and
Human
Nature
collects
together
for
the
first
time
much
of
Steven
Pinker's
most
influential
scholarly
work
on
language
and
cognition.
Pinker's
seminal
research
explores
the
workings
of
language
and
its
connections
to
cognition,
perception,
social
relationships,
child
development,
human
evolution,
and
theories
of
human
nature.
This
eclectic
collection
spans
Pinker's
thirty-year
career,
exploring
his
favorite
themes
in
greater
depth
and
scientific
detail.
It
includes
thirteen
of
Pinker's
classic
articles,
ranging
over
topics
such
as
language
development
in
children,
mental
imagery,
the
recognition
of
shapes,
the
computational
architecture
of
the
mind,
the
meaning
and
uses
of
verbs,
the
evolution
of
language
and
cognition,
the
nature-nurture
debate,
and
the
logic
of
innuendo
and
euphemism.
Each
outlines
a
major
theoryor
takes
up
an
argument
with
another
prominent
scholar,
such
as
Stephen
Jay
Gould,
Noam
Chomsky,
or
Richard
Dawkins.
Featuring
a
new
introduction
by
Pinker
that
discusses
his
books
and
scholarly
work,
this
collection
reflects
essential
contributions
to
cognitive
science
by
one
of
our
leading
thinkersand
public
intellectuals. Citește tot Restrânge

Recenzii

Pinker
is
a
star,
and
the
world
of
science
is
lucky
to
have
him."Steven
Pinker
is
among
the
best
synthesizers
in
the
cognitive
sciences.
He
is
unique
in
the
breadth
of
his
interests
and
the
depth
of
his
knowledge.
To
top
it
off,
his
elegant
and
witty
writings
speak
equally
to
specialists
and
to
literate
individuals
everywhere."Pinker
is
an
intellectual
giant
in
the
field,
one
of
the
most
important
psychologists
and
thinkers
in
our
day.
This
compilation
is
outstanding,
a
fitting
crown
on
his
career
so
far,
although
I
suspect
he
has
much
more
to
contribute.
Even
though
I'd
read
a
handful
of
these
papers
before,
there
were
some
that
I
was
unaware
of
that
are
gems.
Even
those
I'd
read
before,
I
re-read,
and
got
even
more
on
the
second
reading."With
wit
and
acumen,
Pinker
introduces
us
to
some
of
his
most
important
scientific
contributions.
These
glimpses
into
the
development
of
these
foundational
articles
and
of
course
the
articles
themselves
will
be
of
great
interest
to
academics
and
to
his
many
fans
beyond
the
walls
of
academia."Pinker
is
a
rarity
among
academic
psychologists
not
only
as
a
stylish
writer,
but
also
as
a
profound
thinker
with
an
ability
to
grasp
the
major
issues
of
human
nature
and
human
evolution.
Language,
Cognition,
and
Human
Nature:
Selected
Articles
is
as
good
an
introduction
as
any
into
the
range
and
depth
of
his
thinking
and
will
have
general
appeal
beyond
an
academic
readership."
-Michael
Corballis,
PsycCRITIQUES

Notă biografică

Steven
Pinker
is
Johnstone
Family
Professor
in
the
Department
of
Psychology
at
Harvard
University.
He
conducts
research
on
language
and
cognition,
writes
for
publications
such
as
the
New
York
Times,
Time
and
The
New
Republic,
and
is
the
author
of
eight
books,
including
The
Language
Instinct,
How
the
Mind
Works,
Words
and
Rules,
The
Blank
Slate,
The
Stuff
of
Thought,
and,
most
recently,
The
Better
Angels
of
Our
Nature:
Why
Violence
HasDeclined.